Electric foot warmer



May 31, 1932 E. w. .JGHNSQN LSSAQ ELECTRIC FOOT WARMER Filed Sept. l5, 1930 A c 1,. f y

0006@ 00000909 OOQQQOO@` 5 i gimme/s to@ FLL/5 JOHNSON Patented May 31 1932 PATENT OFFICE ELLIS W. JOHNSGN, F JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK ELECTRIC FOOT WARMER Application lled September 15, 1930. Serial No. 481,849.

This invention relates to an improvement in electric foot warmers and more p'artlcularly to those adapted for use out of doors.

In its preferred embodiment, the device 1s adapted to be used to protect both feet and ankles from the cold through the use of an electric heating unit from which the heat 1s directed upwardly into an open sack.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a portable foot warming device which is strong enough to support the weight of a person.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device in which substantiallyall the available heat is directed to the upper radiat-` ing surface directly above the heating unit.

A further object of the invention` lies in the provision of an open top"'s'a `cl`{.enclosing the heating/ unit and adapted'to 'confine"`the generated heat to the area 'directly above said unit. l

Other and further objects-of 'tle invention may be more clearlyundestoodfrom a` consideration of 'the following "specification which is taken in conjunction with' the ac- 'companying drawings and in whichv Fig. 1 is a front'eleva'ti'on 'of one modifica- 1 tionof this invention;

Flg. 2 is a fragmentary-vertical sectional view taken on `the line of Figure 3;

Fig. 3 is {fragmentjiry'plan view of the structure shownv in Figure 1, parts being broken away to show the: arrangement of the heatingunit;` A i Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modification of the structure shown in Figure 1, in which the' heating element is removable; and j i i Fig. 5 Vis a sectipnal view o f thestructure in 4Figure 4 with theheating element partially removed from its casing.

Referring to the drawings and particularly toFigures 1 and 2 thereof, the invention is shown to be comprised of a base generally indicated by the reference numeral in which is mounted a heating element and to which is secured a boot 11.

The base 10, in the present modification,

c is formednwith downwardly directed side flanges 12 connected with or. integrally joined to a foot supporting plate 13. In both up-` per and lower faces of the ylate .13 are produced a plurality of heat ka sorbing and radiating projections 15, the projections on the under face of the plate being adapted to abscrb heat from the coil therebeneath and thev drilled and tapped opening is made. A

corresponding opening is provided in the block 17 and a vscrew 21 removably joins the block to the base of the fiange. At the jointure of the ange 12 with the plate 13, a recess 23 is made in which is located an asbestos or other suitable ad 24, the purpose of whichpwill later be set orth.

The sack l1 is removably attached to all four flanges 12 by a fastener 26 of any conventional design. 'Ihesack projects upwardly from the ibase, being cut to provide -anopening in one side thereof. In-the present modication the opening is shown 'to be closed by a fastener 27 of the hookless fastener type. l

The heating unit 29, which is mounted in the opening 19, consists of a rectangular member having upstanding walls '31.. -This structure virtually constitutes a pan into which is poured and distributed to an even layer an insulating material 33.- Before the material 33 sets, the heating coil 34 is partially embedded therein. When this materia-l sets, the coil is protected against loosenlng or breaking. The coil may be made to assume any desired shape but-is found prefcerable to' lay it zigzag in a manner similar to that of many other heating elements. As may be seen in Figure 3, the ends of the heating element are carried out through a housing 36 from which extends the usual cord 37 and connection plug 38.

The heating unit 29 is mounted in the opening 19, being moved upwardly to a point where the side flanges strike the pads 24. Blocks 17 are now inserted in the recesses 16 and, when the screws 21 are engaged with the flanges 12, said blocks are drawn into 4contact with and adapted to firmly secure the heating element in place.

It is obviously desirable to project heat from the coils 34 upwardly into contact with the projection and not permit the radiation of heat to the flanges 12 through the inner flan es 31. Consequently, the insulating material 33 is built up along the flanges Bland, since the upper edge of each of these flanges closely engages the insulating pad 24, practically no heat transference occurs through these flanges from the heating element to the exterior of the device.

The modification in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings shows a device formed entirely from a suitable sheet metal in contradistinction to the above described device which combines a sheet metal heating unit with a cast base. The base 40 is formed with a ribbed foot supporting portion 41, the edges of which project downwardly forming flanges 43. The bottom edges 44 of two oppositely disposed flanges 43 are. bent inwardly for a purpose later to be described. The sack 11 is attached to the flanges 43 of the base by means of fasteners 26.

The flanges 43 and portion 41 form a rectangular recess or opening 46 into which a heating unit 47 "is placed. This unit is a rectangular pan-like element, havingbottom and side walls 48 and 49 respectively. A suitable insulating material 51 is placed in the bottom wall 48, being built up along .the edges of the side walls 49. This material, as above stated, is a form of cement in which the coil 53 is set prior to the hardening thereof. Once the material is hard, the coil is firmly secured and there is little likelihood of breakage. By reason of the fact that the ribs of the portion 41 extend in but one direction across the base, it is contemplated to provide an angularly disposed support 54 to prevent undue lstrain on the structure. The support 54 is rigidly attached to the bottom wall 48 of the heating unit 47, being substantially midway between the two parallel walls 49. When the heating unit is mounted in the opening 46, the upper edge of the support 54 abuts the depending curved portions 55 of the portion 41.

The jointure of the bottom and side walls 48 and 49 occurs through a slightly curved port1on 56 and, when the heating unit is While applicant has shown and described but two modifications of his invention, it is obvious to those skilled in'the art that other" modifications or adaptations maybe made without departing from the spirit and sco e of the invention, as set forth and defined 1n the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the class described comprising a base for supporting the weight of a person, a heating element in said base, a sack 'loined to and'projecting upwardly from said ase to form a heat compartment for the feet and legs and means for drawing the upper portion of the sack about the legs of the user of the device.

2. A device ofthe class described comprising a base for withstanding the weight of a person, a removable heating elementJ mounted in said base, a sack joined to and enclosing said base, said sack being projected upwardly from said base to form a heat compartment for the feet and legs and means for drawing the upper portion of said sack about vthe legs of the user of the device.

3. A device of the class described comprising a base having a portion for withstanding the weight of a person and a cavity therebeneath, a heating element mounted in said cavity, a sack enclosing Said base, fastening means oining said sack to said base, saidusack being projected upwardly from said base to form a heat compartment for the feet and legs directly above the portion of said base, and means for drawing the upper portion of said sack about the legs of the user of the device.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ELLIS W. JOHNSON.

mounted in the opening 46, the curved edges 44 of the flanges 43, which have been sprung outwardly during the assembly, spring into place engaging the curved portions of the heatmg unit 56, thus preventing inadvertent dlsassembly of the device. When it is desired to remove the heating unit, the flanges 43 are 

